Signs of alcoholism can let you know when your alcohol consumption is reaching dangerous levels and that it is time to get alcohol addiction treatment before the situation worsens. Taking note of the warning signs of alcoholism can assist family members in identifying the severity of alcohol addiction and help their loved one get the help that he or she needs before it’s too late. At The Retreat Rehab Centres, we can help you take heed of alcoholism warning signs and get timely treatment. Through alcohol detox, counselling and therapy, you can change your life and avoid the negative effects of alcoholism.
- a) Drinking at inappropriate times.
This will look different for everyone, but some common examples of inappropriate drinking include drinking in secrecy, drinking in the morning or at work. In the same way, drinking too much even when the time is appropriate can be a warning sign of alcohol addiction. Drinking a bottle of wine at dinner when everyone else drinks only a glass or ordering a pitcher of beer when everyone else is ordering a bottle can also be an indication of a problem.
- b) Unable to enjoy or function without Alcohol.
Alcoholics don’t enjoy events that don’t include the opportunity to drink. Given a choice, many will stay home and if they can’t avoid the activity, they may try and drink on the sly. In some cases, alcoholism warning sign can be so severe that the individual cannot function without alcohol -they drink at work, church events, family gatherings, and sober occasions. Without alcohol, they begin to feel ill and unable to make it through the day. Often, family members will not even know when an alcoholic begins drinking. So used to drinking in large amounts, alcoholics often function despite having ingested large amounts of alcohol. Friends and family members are often fooled as a result.
- c) Alcohol-related health problems.
If you or someone you love is experiencing chronic health problems due to alcohol use, then that could suggest warning signs of alcoholism and should not to be ignored. Liver problems, kidney issues, heart murmurs -all this and more can from excessive drinking. Without treatment, this can result to medical complications such as liver failure, kidney failure, heart disease and other deadly health issues.
Though you may not be able to reverse these conditions even after alcohol rehab, you can stop them from getting worse and learn how to manage them without further problems.
Withdrawal Symptoms
The intensely uncomfortable physical effects are unpleasant to say the least, and few relish the idea of voluntarily taking on this discomfort. The good news is that alcohol withdrawal symptoms are relatively short-lived. In just a few days or as long as a couple of weeks, one begins to feel better than they did during active addiction. With the right addiction treatment program, alcohol withdrawal symptoms will be minimal with the right medication and support.
The basics of withdrawal.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are to be expected when you stop drinking if you are an alcoholic. The constant influx of alcohol in your system forces your body into physical dependence and without the substance, you are not able to avoid negative physical effects. The best way to handle alcohol withdrawal symptoms is to prepare for it and expect it. At an alcohol detox, medical professionals will be standing by to help you. Through constant medical and psychological support, you can make sure to get through alcohol detox with a minimum of issues.
Early treatment is key for facing withdrawal.
Alcoholism, or alcohol addiction, is a chronic progressive disease. Every day that you continue to live in active addiction, you increase the severity and length of detox and your experience of alcohol withdrawal symptoms as well. Every time you try to stop drinking, you’ll note that the alcohol withdrawal symptoms are worse than they were previously. Two things are key: Early treatment and effective treatment. The sooner you stop drinking, the easier your alcohol withdrawal symptoms will be to deal with and the more effective the treatment, the less likely you will be to relapse and end up needing to go through yet another alcohol detox.
Dangerous alcoholism withdrawal symptoms.
It is not recommended that you attempt to stop drinking without the medical supervision and assistance provided by an inpatient alcohol detox program. If you stop drinking and experience any of the following symptoms, get medical treatment immediately:
- Lose consciousness
- Seizures
- Vomiting (in relation to seizures and not in response to overindulging in alcohol)
- Uncontrollable shaking
- Hallucinations
- Chills and/ or profuse sweating
About 25 percent of alcoholics will experience severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms that include seizures, DTs and more. At an alcohol detox center, your vital signs are monitored constantly and you will be given medications that will control these symptoms and keep you comfortable. Fear of alcohol withdrawal symptoms is a common reason that many alcoholics avoid getting the alcohol rehab help that they need.
The Biggest Challenges to Rehab Success
An alcoholic will fall deeper and deeper into the cycle of addiction without professional help. When these individuals enter into an alcohol rehab program they are given the support and treatment they need to achieve and maintain sobriety. The process is designed to enrich the mind, body and spirit of the individual.
However, not everyone makes it through alcohol rehab on the first try. In fact, there are several obstacles that keep individuals from seeking proper addiction treatment at all. The following represents some of the biggest challenges to alcohol rehab success, and how they can be overcome.
What are the Challenges to Success?
- a) Poor attitude. As simplistic as it sounds, an individual’s attitude plays a significant role in how well they do in alcohol rehab. If an addict uses up a great deal of mental and physical energy “fighting back” against their counsellors and care-givers, they have that much less to apply to getting well.
- b) Distractions. If an individual is going through a difficult time at work or at home, they will be distracted from the goals set forth in alcohol rehab. This is more likely to occur in an outpatient alcohol rehab where the individual returns to their home environment at the end of each treatment day.
- c) Not being honest. Individuals who are not honest with their counsellors and fellow patients are acting in a manner that is counter-productive to recovery. Rehab is all about honesty. It is with honesty that breakthroughs occur and real progress is made. Those who lie during rehab are only hurting themselves and sabotaging their own chances at maintaining sobriety.
- d) Being inattentive. Many individuals will simply “coast” through their alcohol rehab program, nodding off or failing to contribute during group counselling sessions. This is a shame, because those who maintain an active involvement in their treatment plan are the ones who are most likely to achieve success. Every day of alcohol rehab provides new nuggets of information that can the recovering addict can use at a later date. Not paying attention means missing out on these occurrences and struggling as a result.
- e) Being condescending to others. In every program there is likely to be at least one person who feels that alcohol rehab is somehow beneath them. These individuals not only sell short their own chances of getting real value out of the program, but also hamper the recovery of others because of the distractions that they cause. It is important to remember that everyone in alcohol rehab is seen as equal in the eyes of the program. The socio-economic standing of the participants may differ wildly, but the goal of sobriety is the same for all.
Success Tips
- a) Focus on accomplishing little goals.
If you wake up every day with the task to stay sober forever, you’re immediately going to feel overwhelmed. Instead, start with the small things that you can accomplish that will serve that goal of staying sober.
For example, you know you don’t want to drink today. What can you do instead that will be productive? It can be as small as ‘make your bed’ or ‘eat a healthy breakfast’ or something bigger like ‘work on your resume’ or ‘look through ads and contact five listings.’ Always have some small, manageable goal that you can handle on your to-do list to keep you focused. - b) Develop a support network.
During alcohol rehab, you can start developing your support network with the peers who are in rehab with you. Your counsellor and therapists are other support beams for you and those you meet in 12-step meetings out in the community are helpful as well. Family and friends who offer their support can be woven into your network, too. When you just need someone to talk to, these people will come in handy. - b) Bring something inspiring and/ or personal from home.
Sometimes a picture of your kids or a beautiful location in the world that you’d like to visit can be just what you need to remind you of why you’re working through all these difficult issues rather than succumbing to the disease. Your favourite book or your favourite pair of pyjamas can help you relax. - c) Don’t expect to want it all the time.
No matter how much you want to get sober, you will still occasionally falter emotionally. The idea of relapse may sometimes seem like the best and most desirable next step. Don’t worry! You can get through these thoughts and cravings. That’s why you have a support network and personal comfort items. Everybody feels this way from time to time. But just because you have these feelings doesn’t mean that you have to act on them. - d) Get referrals.
Before you leave alcohol rehab, make sure to get local referrals so that you can continue your treatment. 12-step groups and support groups can help you build a network of support at home.